by: Dahr Jamail
I'm graced to live adjacent to Olympic National Park and have it as my backyard sanctuary. Recently, I hiked up to an alpine lake at 5,000 feet, where my friend John and I pitched camp and settled in to climb a nearby peak. The clear, rarified air wafting through sub-alpine fir expands the soul, not to mention the power of the incredible mountain views. But the trip, fantastic weather and summit aside, had a bittersweet edge to it.